Do you PHIT? Why A Career in Public Health Informatics Might Be for You and How to Get the Training You Need

From the Public Health Informatics &
Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program

(NAPSI)—Are you looking to pursue a career in health care but don’t think direct patient is right for you? Perhaps you like analyzing trends and utilizing the latest technology? Or maybe you’re passionate about making a difference in your community? A career in public health informatics could be for you!

Public health informatics is an exciting and rapidly growing field that brings together public health and data science to improve people’s lives. Professionals in this field know how to connect people, technology and information to inform decision making that improves health outcomes across communities.

Career Paths

Public health informatics offers a pathway to making an impact in health care. By pursuing an education in this field, you can be at the forefront of the latest digital tools and trends, while also helping to improve the lives of others.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the related field of health information technologists and medical registrars has a job-growth outlook of 16% over the next 10 years, which is much faster than average. Various employers, from health IT start-ups to hospitals to public health departments and community health centers, need specialists trained in health data science. 

Do you PHIT?

Are you interested in joining the movement to advance public health? There are opportunities to pursue an education in public health informatics in Mississippi. 

Jackson State University has launched graduate certificates in data analytics and public health informatics. In addition, they provide courses, training, and internships for undergraduate students. During the summer of 2023, they kicked off a program for high school students and launched the graduate certificates in the fall. Their next step is to offer a master’s degree in informatics and analytics. 

Jackson State University is also partnering with Alcorn State University’s Cora S. Balmat School of Nursing in Natchez, Mississippi, to develop curricula and train students in nursing informatics. For more information, visit: www.jsums.edu/PHIT. 

• This project is funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number 90PH0009; Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (The PHIT Workforce Development Program) for $10,232,688.00. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by ONC, HHS or the U.S. government.

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)